Rhoda, As you see, Father Eugene is the one who was in Abbeylara in 1914. He certifying that the copy is in accord with the original. In my experience with Irish Catholic records, the original would have been signed by the priest who officiated at the baptism in most cases, although if there was only one priest at the church, sometimes the records would just be entered into that priest's register. (The latter happened with the records kept by my great-great-uncle, Father John Conefrey, whose last parish was Gortletteragh in Leitrim. Father John did not sign each record, apparently because he was the only one using the parochial register.) You are correct that your grandmother would have had to present proof of baptism to be married in the Catholic Church. The Grays on the side of the family that includes Father William (interestingly enough I have Grays in two of my lines) were Catholic and apparently of indigenous Irish stock. In that area, those who didn't speak English referred to themselves by the name Colreavy--which does mean the color gray and certainly doesn't sound like Gray, so no one has been able to give me a credible explanation of the reason that Colreavy became Gray in English. The Grays in the other line were quite possibly of Scots origin and seem to have emigrated from Ulster. However, the modern day contingent is Catholic. Nancy -------------- Original message from "CandROverson" <overson12@btinternet.com>: -------------- > Dear Nancy and David > > I managed to find the baptism certificate and it is in fact a copy of the > original record. It was made in 1914 and I assume my Grandmother needed > proof of her baptism in order to marry within the Catholic church? She > married my Grandfather in Balerno, Midlothian, Scotland in February 1914. > > It says: > > "Mary Jane Feeney was baptised 9th June 1892. Parents Michael Feeney & Rose > Reilly. Sponsors Michael Devine (?) and Mary Mathews. > > I certify the above is a correct copy of the Parochial Register kept at > Abbeylara Catholic Church. > > Abbeylara Eugene M'Guire > 10th January 1914 P.P " > > So, sorry Nancy, but it doesn't mention Father William Gray, Incidentally, > isn't Gray a Scottish surname? I believe it is a Norman-Scottish name. > > Rhoda > > > ********************************** > Longford Genealogy Website: http://www.rootsweb.com/~irllog/ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-LONGFORD-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message